The online habits of children ages 6-11 reflect the continuing dramatic increase in online sales and the obvious necessity for businesses to have an online presence. Whether the business works with a small website design firm or one of the larger national firms such as Heritage Web Solutions, an online presence is a must for all businesses to be successful now and in the future.
Question: What does this have to do with “hot oatmeal”?
Answer: Parents’ purchasing is dramatically influenced by their children’s preferences. For example, prior to1906, breakfast cereals were almost exclusively hot cereals. Will Kellogg’s introduction of corn flakes has revolutionized breakfast. Thanks to clever marketing, parents are caught between caving into the “Cocoa Pebbles”, “Cocoa Puffs”, cocoa this and that or forcing their children to “eat your oatmeal, it’s good for you.” The children have won and the cold cereal industry enjoys enormous profits.
According to a new study from Experian Consumer Research, an overwhelming majority (89%) of all kids age 6-11 in the US spend at least some time doing online activities.
The Simmons Kids Fall 2007 Full Years Study found that because today's kids have grown up in the age of online communication, networking, the internet, cell phones, digital music and digital cable, they have had different childhood experiences compared with other generations. This makes them more likely to react differently than their older counterparts to advertising and marketing initiatives.
The study also found that while kids may not currently spend much money, they are very likely to influence their parents' purchasing decisions. Any business that currently sells products or services for children needs to be acutely aware of this. Their website needs to incorporate an appeal to children into the look and feel of the website and the message it conveys.
The implications for the future are equally important. Currently, roughly 64% of the U.S. population uses the Internet. As each succeeding generation becomes a purchasing generation, the sale of online products and services will expand dramatically. Savvy business owners recognize this and adjust accordingly. Remember, the friendly professionals at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Canadian E-Commerce Opportunities
Canadian E-Commerce Opportunities
(11/21/08)
Heritage Web Solutions, one of the premier website design and hosting companies doing business in the United States and Canada, encourages businesses in Canada to seriously consider expanding their online presence and marketing. This recommendation is based on evidence that the Canadian e-commerce sales volume is rapidly expanding and from all indications will continue to do so. The following article appeared in Internetretailer.com’s Daily News on April 25, 2008:
Canadian e-commerce sales grow 26%, led by business-to-consumer sector
Canadian e-commerce grew 26% to C$62.7 billion (US$61.7 billion) in 2007, up from C$49.9 billion the year before. Business-to-consumer sales grew to 38% of Canadian e-commerce in 2007, up from 32% the prior year, according to a new report from Statistics Canada, a government data-collection agency.
Retail sales accounted for 10% of total e-commerce activity. Customers outside of Canada made 19% of the purchases at Canadian e-commerce sites, about the same as in the two prior years.
8% of private sector firms sell online, and e-commerce accounts for nearly 2% of the revenue of those firms, the report says. About 16% of public sector organizations sell online.
Asked about the benefits of doing business online, 30% of private sector firms cited lower costs, up from 27% the prior year; 36% cited reaching new customers, unchanged from 2006; 36% pointed to better coordination with suppliers, customers or partners, up from 35%; 19% said reduced time to market, down from 20%; and 10% cited no benefits, up from 8% the year before.
Statistics Canada compiles the data from surveys of 19,000 organizations. Responding to the survey is mandatory.
In the face of today’s global financial meltdown, more and more, consumers will do their shopping from home where possible. No longer is shopping from home merely a convenience and time saver, but rather a financial necessity and budget saver as well. This has created an even more compelling reason for businesses to promote their products and services through e-commerce. Remember, the friendly experts at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away. Call 866-211-0743, or visit www.heritagewebsolutions.com
(11/21/08)
Heritage Web Solutions, one of the premier website design and hosting companies doing business in the United States and Canada, encourages businesses in Canada to seriously consider expanding their online presence and marketing. This recommendation is based on evidence that the Canadian e-commerce sales volume is rapidly expanding and from all indications will continue to do so. The following article appeared in Internetretailer.com’s Daily News on April 25, 2008:
Canadian e-commerce sales grow 26%, led by business-to-consumer sector
Canadian e-commerce grew 26% to C$62.7 billion (US$61.7 billion) in 2007, up from C$49.9 billion the year before. Business-to-consumer sales grew to 38% of Canadian e-commerce in 2007, up from 32% the prior year, according to a new report from Statistics Canada, a government data-collection agency.
Retail sales accounted for 10% of total e-commerce activity. Customers outside of Canada made 19% of the purchases at Canadian e-commerce sites, about the same as in the two prior years.
8% of private sector firms sell online, and e-commerce accounts for nearly 2% of the revenue of those firms, the report says. About 16% of public sector organizations sell online.
Asked about the benefits of doing business online, 30% of private sector firms cited lower costs, up from 27% the prior year; 36% cited reaching new customers, unchanged from 2006; 36% pointed to better coordination with suppliers, customers or partners, up from 35%; 19% said reduced time to market, down from 20%; and 10% cited no benefits, up from 8% the year before.
Statistics Canada compiles the data from surveys of 19,000 organizations. Responding to the survey is mandatory.
In the face of today’s global financial meltdown, more and more, consumers will do their shopping from home where possible. No longer is shopping from home merely a convenience and time saver, but rather a financial necessity and budget saver as well. This has created an even more compelling reason for businesses to promote their products and services through e-commerce. Remember, the friendly experts at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away. Call 866-211-0743, or visit www.heritagewebsolutions.com
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Google Adsense - A Great Marketing Solution
Google Adsense Makes Good Cents
Heritage Web Solutions has found a great resource through Google in both advertising of your company, as well as making extra revenue through posting Google ads on your website. It is called Google Adsense.
What is AdSense?
Google AdSense is the program that can give you advertising revenue from each page on your website—with a minimal investment in time and no additional resources.
AdSense delivers relevant text and image ads that are precisely targeted to your site and your site content. And when you add a Google search box to your site, AdSense delivers relevant text ads that are targeted to the Google search results pages generated by your visitors’ search request.
Quick and Simple
AdSense takes only minutes to set-up. Just copy and paste a block of HTML and targeted ads start showing up on your website. Since Google provides the ads, you have no advertiser relationships to maintain.
Make Extra Money with a Google Search Box
Place a Google search box on your site, and you can start monetizing the results from web searches. Not only does this keep your users on your website longer—since they can search from where they are—it takes just minutes to implement. And you pay nothing to participate.
Adsense Customer Testimonials
“Instead of spending money to hire an additional sales rep to sell ad banners, Google ads have become a virtual sales tool for us. Now we’re able to reap thousands of dollars in additional advertising revenue each month that we would very likely have missed without Google AdSense." - Robert Hoskins, Editor and Group Publisher, Broadband Wireless Exchange
“At the beginning I was very concerned that I might lose traffic to competitors. I only used AdSense on a limited number of the site’s pages, and I watched the stats very carefully. If the traffic, pages per visitor, or conversion rates dropped I knew I could easily pull the ads...Since implementing AdSense, our ad revenue has increased more than tenfold, and 100 percent of my available inventory is now sold through AdSense." - Vik Kachoria, Entrepreneur, Real Adventure.
Learn More
To learn more, contact a representative of Heritage Web Solutions at 1-866-754-1441 or visit our website at Heritage Web Solutions. Also check out www.hwdtools.com. To sign up today with Google Adsense, go to: Google Adsense.
Heritage Web Solutions has found a great resource through Google in both advertising of your company, as well as making extra revenue through posting Google ads on your website. It is called Google Adsense.
What is AdSense?
Google AdSense is the program that can give you advertising revenue from each page on your website—with a minimal investment in time and no additional resources.
AdSense delivers relevant text and image ads that are precisely targeted to your site and your site content. And when you add a Google search box to your site, AdSense delivers relevant text ads that are targeted to the Google search results pages generated by your visitors’ search request.
Quick and Simple
AdSense takes only minutes to set-up. Just copy and paste a block of HTML and targeted ads start showing up on your website. Since Google provides the ads, you have no advertiser relationships to maintain.
Make Extra Money with a Google Search Box
Place a Google search box on your site, and you can start monetizing the results from web searches. Not only does this keep your users on your website longer—since they can search from where they are—it takes just minutes to implement. And you pay nothing to participate.
Adsense Customer Testimonials
“Instead of spending money to hire an additional sales rep to sell ad banners, Google ads have become a virtual sales tool for us. Now we’re able to reap thousands of dollars in additional advertising revenue each month that we would very likely have missed without Google AdSense." - Robert Hoskins, Editor and Group Publisher, Broadband Wireless Exchange
“At the beginning I was very concerned that I might lose traffic to competitors. I only used AdSense on a limited number of the site’s pages, and I watched the stats very carefully. If the traffic, pages per visitor, or conversion rates dropped I knew I could easily pull the ads...Since implementing AdSense, our ad revenue has increased more than tenfold, and 100 percent of my available inventory is now sold through AdSense." - Vik Kachoria, Entrepreneur, Real Adventure.
Learn More
To learn more, contact a representative of Heritage Web Solutions at 1-866-754-1441 or visit our website at Heritage Web Solutions. Also check out www.hwdtools.com. To sign up today with Google Adsense, go to: Google Adsense.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Beware Well Disguised Credit Card Scam
(12/8/08)
As a public service, this information and warning are being posted by Heritage Web Solutions. The insidious nature of this operation is so cleverly disguised that even the most cautious may be victimized by this scam. Anyone owning a credit card is a potential victim.
Identity theft is an increasingly relevant part of our lives. Just two months ago Countrywide Home Loans had a major security breach in which up to two million home owners had their personal information compromised. Identify theft knows no boundaries. No one is immune from this scourge.
The perpetrators of this particular credit card scam already have much of the personal information of the potential victims, including such things as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, place of residence, phone numbers, etc. There is one tiny, but critical bit of information they don’t have. Their approach is so cleverly disguised that an unsuspecting victim gives it to them.
Here is how the scam unfolds. The scammer calls the victim and identifies himself as calling from the Fraud Department at VISA (or Mastercard, etc.), gives the victim the CC card number, and states that the victim’s card has been flagged for an unusual purchase. The scammer then asks the victim if he made a purchase at XYZ company in Arizona in the amount of xxx dollars. The victim will say “no”, whereupon the scammer says: “This amount has been billed to your card. However, before your next statement, your card will be credited. The statement will be sent to (repeats the victim’s address). Is that correct?” The victim says “yes.”
Now the scam: (remember, the scammer has given the victim enough personal information to allay any concerns that the caller is not who he claims to be, i.e. associated with the Fraud Department). The caller then says, “I need to verify you are in possession of your card”. The scammer instructs the victim to “turn your card over and look for some numbers. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the Security Numbers. Please read those numbers to me”. If the card holder gives those 3 numbers, the scammer now has the information needed to complete the scam. The scammer now has full control of the credit card.
Heritage Web Solutions hopes this alert has been helpful. Be cautious. If you have any questions or suspicions, call the toll free number on the back of your credit card immediately.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What is a Database Website?
A database-driven website, also called a dynamic website, is an interactive site that gathers information and stores it in a behind-the-scenes database that can then be accessed by either the website owner or the website user. . The storage area for the information is called a database. The need for and use of such websites are constantly increasing. According to Sean Jackson, manager of database development at Heritage Web Solutions, approximately 85% of all of the websites Heritage designs make use of a database.
Database-driven websites are in demand because consumers’ needs for information gathering, access and interaction continue to rise. Every time you order a product, fill out a form or access your membership information you are using a database-driven website.
A few examples of Database Functions:
• Membership Sites - http://www.hwdweb.com/dating.shtml
• Real Estate Listings - http://www.hwdweb.com/real_estate.shtml
• Interactive Calendars - http://www.hwdweb.com/calendar_php.shtml
• Blogs - http://www.hwdweb.com/Blog.shtml
• Online Stores - http://www.hwdweb.com/shopping_cart.shtml
• Product Catalogs - http://www.hwdweb.com/shopping_cart.shtml
• Payment Forms - http://www.hwdweb.com/advanced_payment_form.shtml
• Automobile Dealer Listings - http://www.hwdweb.com/auto_featured_cars.shtml
• Subscription Forms - http://www.hwdweb.com/double_optin.shtml
• Chat room Features - http://www.hwdweb.com/flashchat.shtml
• Secured Applications - http://www.hwdweb.com/secured_form_20_fields.shtml
• Forums and Bulletin Boards - http://www.hwdweb.com/forum_bullitinboard.shtml
• News Feeds - http://www.hwdweb.com/zfeeder.shtml
• Logins - http://www.hwdweb.com/java_script_login.shtml
• Newsletter Sign-ins - http://www.hwdweb.com/double_optin.shtml
In considering the need for a database-driven website, you should assess the type of interaction you want to have with your customers or visitors. If you need to gather, present or display changing information from your website, then you will require a database program to perform those actions.
What To Do Next
As a business owner considering the options to incorporate into your website, take the time to discuss your business needs with a professional firm. Many of your database needs may have already been created for use in multiple websites. With modest revisions, they can be adapted to your needs. This potentially can save you significant time and money. And remember, for all of your database and other website needs, the friendly staff at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away.
Database-driven websites are in demand because consumers’ needs for information gathering, access and interaction continue to rise. Every time you order a product, fill out a form or access your membership information you are using a database-driven website.
A few examples of Database Functions:
• Membership Sites - http://www.hwdweb.com/dating.shtml
• Real Estate Listings - http://www.hwdweb.com/real_estate.shtml
• Interactive Calendars - http://www.hwdweb.com/calendar_php.shtml
• Blogs - http://www.hwdweb.com/Blog.shtml
• Online Stores - http://www.hwdweb.com/shopping_cart.shtml
• Product Catalogs - http://www.hwdweb.com/shopping_cart.shtml
• Payment Forms - http://www.hwdweb.com/advanced_payment_form.shtml
• Automobile Dealer Listings - http://www.hwdweb.com/auto_featured_cars.shtml
• Subscription Forms - http://www.hwdweb.com/double_optin.shtml
• Chat room Features - http://www.hwdweb.com/flashchat.shtml
• Secured Applications - http://www.hwdweb.com/secured_form_20_fields.shtml
• Forums and Bulletin Boards - http://www.hwdweb.com/forum_bullitinboard.shtml
• News Feeds - http://www.hwdweb.com/zfeeder.shtml
• Logins - http://www.hwdweb.com/java_script_login.shtml
• Newsletter Sign-ins - http://www.hwdweb.com/double_optin.shtml
In considering the need for a database-driven website, you should assess the type of interaction you want to have with your customers or visitors. If you need to gather, present or display changing information from your website, then you will require a database program to perform those actions.
What To Do Next
As a business owner considering the options to incorporate into your website, take the time to discuss your business needs with a professional firm. Many of your database needs may have already been created for use in multiple websites. With modest revisions, they can be adapted to your needs. This potentially can save you significant time and money. And remember, for all of your database and other website needs, the friendly staff at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Using the BBB to Promote Your Business
In today’s business environment fraught with ever-increasing deceptive business practices, less than desired customer service, and the questionable credibility of many businesses, the benefits of being in good standing with the Better Business Bureau is a must. Businesses enjoying a positive record with the BBB are well positioned to assuage the fears of prospective customers. A case in point is that of Heritage Web Solutions.
Heritage is a website design and hosting company with over 15,000 clients. In its history Heritage has had less than 1% of its clients voice concerns to the BBB. More remarkable, Heritage does not have a single unresolved BBB complaint. This track record pays huge dividends in attracting new customers.
Mark Strong, co-founder and current chief quality officer at Heritage, offers the following insight: “The track record Heritage has with the BBB is a huge plus for our company as we discuss doing business with potential clients. Most consumers have had both good and bad experiences doing business with various individuals and companies. Their unspoken concern is, ‘Are they simply saying the right things to get my business, or do they really perform?’ Getting a link to Heritage’s BBB report and viewing that report from a neutral, third party is huge in setting their minds at ease. We simply love the BBB and the positive impact it has on our business.”
According to the National BBB Organization:
Corporations partner and align with BBB primarily because we share two fundamental beliefs:
• The marketplace has its greatest opportunity to flourish when consumers trust the business community. BBB's mission is to advance marketplace trust.
• Industry self-regulation solutions are preferable to government intervention on marketplace trust issues.
Given this, BBB Corporate Partners provide tangible, financial support for BBB's work to advance marketplace trust. In return, alignment with BBB:
• Demonstrates a company's commitment to a trustworthy marketplace
• Further strengthens its Corporate Responsibility Profile and Brand Reputation, and
• Nourishes the necessary framework to develop new self-regulation solutions
As underscored by Strong, business relationships with the BBB create a win-win situation for both the business and the consumer. As a friendly reminder, remember the helpful folks at Heritage Web Solutions are simply a phone call away.
Heritage is a website design and hosting company with over 15,000 clients. In its history Heritage has had less than 1% of its clients voice concerns to the BBB. More remarkable, Heritage does not have a single unresolved BBB complaint. This track record pays huge dividends in attracting new customers.
Mark Strong, co-founder and current chief quality officer at Heritage, offers the following insight: “The track record Heritage has with the BBB is a huge plus for our company as we discuss doing business with potential clients. Most consumers have had both good and bad experiences doing business with various individuals and companies. Their unspoken concern is, ‘Are they simply saying the right things to get my business, or do they really perform?’ Getting a link to Heritage’s BBB report and viewing that report from a neutral, third party is huge in setting their minds at ease. We simply love the BBB and the positive impact it has on our business.”
According to the National BBB Organization:
Corporations partner and align with BBB primarily because we share two fundamental beliefs:
• The marketplace has its greatest opportunity to flourish when consumers trust the business community. BBB's mission is to advance marketplace trust.
• Industry self-regulation solutions are preferable to government intervention on marketplace trust issues.
Given this, BBB Corporate Partners provide tangible, financial support for BBB's work to advance marketplace trust. In return, alignment with BBB:
• Demonstrates a company's commitment to a trustworthy marketplace
• Further strengthens its Corporate Responsibility Profile and Brand Reputation, and
• Nourishes the necessary framework to develop new self-regulation solutions
As underscored by Strong, business relationships with the BBB create a win-win situation for both the business and the consumer. As a friendly reminder, remember the helpful folks at Heritage Web Solutions are simply a phone call away.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Pay-Per-Click Advertising
Pay-per-click advertising (PPC) has become a vastly popular way for online businesses to generate traffic to their website. All types of businesses, including website design companies such as Heritage Web Solutions, depend on PPC advertising.
PPC are ads that show up as sponsored links on the top and along the right-hand side of the search engine page. An advertiser pays the search engine company every time a searcher “clicks” on their ad. The three main search engines make up 75% of the searches worldwide; Google (47.4%), Yahoo (16%), MSN (11.5%).
Ranking high with PPC in a given keyword is based on how much you are willing to pay per click versus your competing advertisers; the more competitive the keyword the higher the cost per click.
Setting up an Account – To set up an advertising account with the three top search engines, go to the following addresses:
Google: http://www.google.com/intl/en/ads/
Yahoo: http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/
MSN: http://advertising.microsoft.com/microsoft-adcenter?s_int=277
Tips for a successful PPC Campaign
1. Your Ad –Include the keyword or phrase that people are searching. Experiment with different ads and determine which ones are most successful.
2. Landing Page – This is the page that people will land on when they click your ad. It should be sales oriented and contain your contact information.
3. Keywords – Use only relevant keywords and phrases which relate to your product or service.
4. Types of Keywords – There are three different ways of listing your keywords. For helpful insight, go to: https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=6100&topic=78
5. Ad Positioning –The 1st position is not always the best. It attracts the "auto clickers", people who automatically click on it, even if it is not what they are looking for. These irrelevant clicks are expensive. Positions 3 and 4 are often recommended.
6. Keyword Clean Up—Review the performance of your keywords and delete the non-performers.
PPC advertising can be the most cost-effective source of marketing and pay huge dividends if done correctly. Remember, the friendly experts at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away.
PPC are ads that show up as sponsored links on the top and along the right-hand side of the search engine page. An advertiser pays the search engine company every time a searcher “clicks” on their ad. The three main search engines make up 75% of the searches worldwide; Google (47.4%), Yahoo (16%), MSN (11.5%).
Ranking high with PPC in a given keyword is based on how much you are willing to pay per click versus your competing advertisers; the more competitive the keyword the higher the cost per click.
Setting up an Account – To set up an advertising account with the three top search engines, go to the following addresses:
Google: http://www.google.com/intl/en/ads/
Yahoo: http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/
MSN: http://advertising.microsoft.com/microsoft-adcenter?s_int=277
Tips for a successful PPC Campaign
1. Your Ad –Include the keyword or phrase that people are searching. Experiment with different ads and determine which ones are most successful.
2. Landing Page – This is the page that people will land on when they click your ad. It should be sales oriented and contain your contact information.
3. Keywords – Use only relevant keywords and phrases which relate to your product or service.
4. Types of Keywords – There are three different ways of listing your keywords. For helpful insight, go to: https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=6100&topic=78
5. Ad Positioning –The 1st position is not always the best. It attracts the "auto clickers", people who automatically click on it, even if it is not what they are looking for. These irrelevant clicks are expensive. Positions 3 and 4 are often recommended.
6. Keyword Clean Up—Review the performance of your keywords and delete the non-performers.
PPC advertising can be the most cost-effective source of marketing and pay huge dividends if done correctly. Remember, the friendly experts at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away.
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